Bako Motors designed the Bee, an electric vehicle with solar panels on its roof, for daily in-city trips. Bako Motors

Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) market is accelerating rapidly — projected to reach $4.2 billion by 2030, more than double its current value, according to market research firm Mordor Intelligence . Yet most EVs still depend on grid electricity, which often comes from a mix of renewable and fossil fuel sources.

Bako Motors, a Tunisian startup, is looking to jump on the EV trend, while tapping into one of Africa’s greatest natural resources — sunshine. Its compact cars and cargo vans have solar panels on their roofs. While the vehicles still have lithium batteries and can be plugged in and charged at home or on the road, the solar panels give them access to a free energy

See Full Page